“This Petra monument is even bigger than the famous Treasury, but you must climb 800 rock-cut steps up a mountain to reach it.”
About The Monastery (Ad Deir)
The Monastery was carved by the Nabataeans, likely in the 1st century AD, probably as a temple or a place associated with royal cult worship. Crosses later scratched into its interior gave it the name Ad Deir, 'the monastery', hinting at reuse by Byzantine Christians. Its remote, elevated position high above Petra's centre has kept it one of the city's more peaceful great monuments.
The Monastery, or Ad Deir, is one of Petra's largest and most spectacular monuments, a vast facade carved into the mountain rock high above the ancient city. Broader and taller even than the famous Treasury, it rewards the strenuous climb of some 800 rock-cut steps with one of the most commanding sights in Jordan, often blissfully less crowded than the sites below.
The Monastery, or Ad Deir, is one of Petra's largest and most spectacular monuments, a vast facade carved into the mountain rock high above the ancient city.
Bigger Than the Treasury
At around 50 metres wide and 45 metres tall, the Monastery is even more monumental than the celebrated Treasury, though simpler in its carving. Built by the Nabataeans, probably in the 1st century as a temple, it later gained its name from crosses carved inside, suggesting Christian use in the Byzantine period. Reaching it requires climbing hundreds of ancient steps up the mountainside, a journey that keeps the crowds thinner and the reward greater.
The Experience
The ascent follows a long, winding staircase of around 800 steps, passing Bedouin stalls and dramatic canyon views, until the colossal Monastery facade opens before you across a wide terrace. A nearby viewpoint looks out over the rugged mountains toward the rift valley. The effort of the ascent, the scale of the carving and the relative quiet make reaching the Monastery one of Petra's most satisfying experiences.
Why It Matters
The Monastery is one of the supreme achievements of Nabataean rock-cut architecture and, for many, the high point of a visit to Petra. Its grand scale, mountaintop setting and the rewarding climb to reach it make it a centrepiece of the UNESCO World Heritage city.
The Monastery is one of the supreme achievements of Nabataean rock-cut architecture and, for many, the high point of a visit to Petra.
Why Visit
Petra's largest monument, a colossal facade reached by an 800-step mountain climb, with stunning views and far fewer crowds than the Treasury below.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Allow time and energy for the climb of about 800 steps.
- 2
Go in the cooler morning or late afternoon for the ascent.
- 3
Walk to the nearby viewpoints over the mountains.
- 4
It is larger than the Treasury but usually far quieter.
